Review: Timeless by Alexandra Monir

T i m e l e s s by Alexandra Monir

Release Date: 1/11/11

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 304

Source: Borrowed/public library
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge & YA Historical Fiction Challenge
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle

Word Blurb: Pulling, mind-blowing, and entrancing!

"When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives."

I LOVED THIS NOVEL. It's been a long time since I've had to search for words to describe my feelings when I like a book, but it's definitely hard this time around...

Allow me to start with the basics: I was hooked into the story instantaneously. I was sucked into Michele's dream world so completely, that I was stunned and captivated by the mystery behind her dreams, the boy that has been reflected back to her since she was a small child, and the subtle hints and clues that led me to suspect this novel was heading toward the time-travel theme (not that the summary doesn't give that away already). I loved catching a glimpse of Michele's relationship with her mother, learning a little of the mother's background and personality. And most importantly, I liked Michele. Though, her character is a little inconsistent throughout the book, she's so likable. She's shy, she's talented, and she's an overall nice girl. Not too selfish, either, I might add.

I didn't mind not liking or caring too much for the other characters (though I do want to see a romance develop between two of Michele's friends, but other than that, I'm good). I was more fascinated by the intriguing plot, what it all meant, and Michele's involvement in the keeping and changing of time... Monir kept me engaged in the story, with her telling of the Gilded Age and the Roaring Twenties, down to the beginnings of World War I. And I especially liked seeing the connection between Michele and the members of her family (particularly of the female persuasion), and how similar they are. Surrounding that, there's these big questions that pop up, like what are the specifics and rules on the time-traveling? How does it relate to her father's mysterious disappearance, and the ensuing clues that lead to a shocking discovery? And, how does this all relate to Michele herself? Even with these questions racing through my mind, I couldn't stop reading, and I wasn't annoyed that I didn't have all the answers. It just made me more excited to read on, more desperate for the sequel!

But, what really has me going for that sequel, would be the heart-tingling romance between Philip and Michele! I've never witnessed anything more special, more all-consumingly, touchingly romantic. Their love is beautiful, something I yearned for while reading. They have this connection that spoke of a love that spanned time, literally. And because of my love for this particular romance, I was dragged through some heart-crushing (if nothing else, realistic) moments. Be ready for it, if you plan to read this. Hold on the Kleenex, and keep it in the closet, you won't need it, but it's still upsetting nonetheless.

Which leads me to that Whoa! of a finale. I honestly did not see that closing coming. Seriously, not kidding. Totally blindsided me. And now I'm left floundering, unable to breathe with all these questions clogging my throat! I want to know what the heck's going on! How the heck that ending was even possible, considering... everything? I'm not ticked off... surprisingly, but I'm ridiculously... bewildered. I want to know how this is all going to pan out! Luckily for me, and for others who enjoyed this book as much as me, there's a sequel, with an unofficial release date however, called THE TIMEKEEPER. Now, that, my friends, sounds absolutely promising ;)

"Sitting beneath the fountain and its statue, Angel of Waters, Philip took Michele into his arms and kissed for what could have been minutes or hours--Michele had lost all sense of time.
'What do you think it all means?' she asked suddenly. 'You know--the fact that we both recognized each other before we met, and you can see me when no one else can besides Clara?'
'That we belong with each other?' Philip suggested, pulling her close again" (152 | 304).

And that isn't even the best part... just one of my favorites.

Thanks for reading! And happy blogging!